LAPAZ - CULTURAL SYNTHESIS OF BOLIVIA (2 days / 1 night)

DAY 1. TRANSFER IN
El Alto airport is at 4.000 m/13,115 ft above sea level and 14 km/9 miles from downtown La Paz on a highway with an excellent view of the city and the majestic backdrop of the Illimani mountain in the Andes Range.

P. M. A WALKING CITY TOUR
You'll enjoy walking all the downtown area, visiting first the Murillo square and its government and legislative palaces, as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then Murillo and Gold museums in the Jaen street, go down crossing San Francisco church with its impressive Indian-baroque style and enter the market area of town to see its diversity and culture that is alive. The Witchcraft market and Artisan market are their main representation.

DAY 2. TRANSFER OUT
From the hotel to the airport. (B)

COCA LEAF'S ROUTE IN YUNGAS (Subtropical Amazon - 2 days / 1 night)

DAY 1. LA PAZ / PUENTE VILLA / CORIPATA / COROICO
This route has great views with lots of contrasts, it goes as high as 4.,650 m/15,246 ft at La Cumbre, surrounded by snow capped mountains with impressive glaciers. Then dropping down to 1,200 m/3,936 ft to the subtropical Amazon in Puente Villa, where you’ll go up another side hill and cross many coca leaf plantations. Next is Coripata, a small town with good views of South Yungas, the route continues with many ups and downs crossing rich farming areas until arriving to Coroico, with warm weather. Overnight at hotel. (L, D)

DAY 2. COROICO / LA PAZ
In the morning you’ll walk around the small colorful town and its surroundings, seeing the rich vegetation and enjoying the good weather.
After lunch take private transportation back to La Paz in the normal route. (B, L)

LAKE TITICACA AND COPACABANA (2 days / 1 night)

DAY 1. LA PAZ / COPACABANA
Trip crossing the highlands to Lake Titicaca, visit a small museum in Huatajata of the constructors of the RA II Expedition done by Thor Heyerdahl, using the technique of the local reed boats. Continue to the strait of Tiquina, cross in ferry boat and trip with great views of the lake and the Andes Range until Copacabana. Visit the famous “Dark Virgin” in its colonial Moorish church. After lunch visit archaeological sites in the surrounding, like the astronomical center of observation "Horca del Inca". Then "El Calvario", a small hill with an excellent view of the bay of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca, don’t miss the sunset late in the afternoon. (L, D)

DAY 2. ISLAND OF THE SUN / COPACABANA / LA PAZ
Boat to the Island of the Sun, visit Pilkokaina ruins and the Garden of the Incas, to see the water spring of the Eternal Youth, where the Incas were baptized. Then boat back to Copacabana and trip to La Paz. (B, L)

A PRE-COLOMBIAN CIRCUIT AROUND LAKE TITICACA (By car and boat - 2 days / 1 night)

DAY 1. LA PAZ - RUINS OF TIAHUANACO, CHIRIPA AND KHALAUTA – HUATAJATA - COPACABANA
Trip crossing the Bolivian highlands to Tiahuanaco (Tiwanacu), to see the great legacy of one of the oldest Andean cultures of America with great examples and development in stone construction, pottery and agriculture. Visit the ruins with its great temples and the local museum to appreciate their rich pottery and art.
Then the village of Tiahuanaco and its church, trip to Taraco crossing primitive Indian villages until Lake Titicaca, visiting the small ruins of the Chiripa culture. Boat to Khalauta Island to see the ruins and the cemetery of the Incas, as well their agricultural terraces. Then boat to Huatajata and transportation to Copacabana, crossing part of the lake in the strait of Tiquina. Overnight in hotel Rosario del lago. (L, D)

DAY 2. COPACABANA - ISLAND OF THE SUN - LA PAZ
Visit the famous “Dark Virgin” in its colonial style church, a stroll through town and take a boat to the Island of the Sun, the sacred place of the Incas, visiting Pilkokaina ruins and the Garden of the Incas. Boat back to Copacabana and transportation to La Paz. (B, L)

AT THE CRADLE OF THE INCA EMPIRE (2 days / 1 night)

DAY 1. LA PAZ / COPACABANA / ISLAND OF THE SUN
The road runs parallel to the Royal Andes Range, giving the chance to see and enjoy many beautiful peaks. It reaches the lake and goes through the eastern part until the strait of Tiquina, which connects the two parts of Lake Titicaca. You cross by ferryboat and continue the trip with great views of the lake and the Andes Range until reaching the town of Copacabana. Visit the famous “Dark Virgin” and its great colonial Moorish church.
Take a boat to Sun Island, visit Pilkokaina ruins, have a typical aptapi (communal Andean lunch) and one hour hike to overnight in Ecolodge La Estancia. (L, D)

DAY 2. ISLAND OF THE SUN / COPACABANA / LA PAZ
DON’T MISS A GREAT SUNRISE! In the morning take a boat to the Chincana bay. At the top are the best ruins preserved of the island called “La Chincana”, optional hike or boat to Challapampa and see its local museum. Boat to Yumani in the Garden of the Incas, see the water spring called of the Eternal Youth, where the Incas were baptized, continue in boat to Copacabana and transportation back to La Paz. (B, L)

LIVING IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES - SORATA (3 days / 2 nights)

DAY 1. LA PAZ / SORATA
Private transportation from La Paz to Sorata (2,678 m/8,784 ft), nice town in the flanks of the Illampu (6,368 m/20,887 ft) and Ancohuma (6,427 m/21,081 ft) mountains, set in a nice valley rich in agriculture. Good production of potato in the upper parts and corn in the lower valleys, the main legacy of the Andean cultures. Walk through town, visit the small market, enjoy the beauty of Sorata and the traditions of their people. (L, D)

DAY 2. SAN PEDRO CAVE AND SURROUNDINGS
From Sorata you'll enjoy its surroundings going towards the cave of San Pedro, an amazing formation of nature with a small lagoon inside. The forming rivers, Indian villages and majestic backdrop of the Andes mountains, make this area a special treasure of nature, with a gentle valley weather. (B, L, D)

DAY 3. SORATA / LA PAZ
Morning at leisure, after lunch private transportation back to La Paz. (B, L)

LEARNING ABOUT THE AYMARA CULTURE (3 days/2 nights)

DAY 1. TRANSFER IN
El Alto airport is at 4.000 m/13,115 ft above sea level and 14 km/9 miles from downtown La Paz on a highway with an excellent view of the city and the majestic backdrop of the Illimani mountain in the Andes Range.

DAY 2. CULTURAL CITY TOUR
The city tour starts in the museum of archaeology, to see the first two cultures: Chiripa and Wankarani, then Tiahuanaco, one of the best developed in the Andean area, due to the great influence of Lake Titicaca. Learn about their social life, incredible techniques in agriculture (terraces, water channels and pools), stone construction and ceramics. Aymaras were the only ones who shared administration with the Incas and have preserved until present times their clothing, language, music and religion. You'll complete learning about the Aymaras in the Gold museum, as well as the Witchcraft, Artisan and Indian markets. (B)

DAY 3. TIAHUANACO RUINS (Half day)
The trip passes through the Bolivian Highlands were you can see the Aymara Indians way of life. Tiahuanaco is one of the oldest cultures and considered the cradle of the American man, being one of the most advanced ones. The temples and constructions include: Kalasasaya temple to see the main work done by them like the Gate of the Sun, monoliths Ponce and Fraile; Akapana pyramid and Semi underground temple. Transfer out. (B)

LA PAZ, LAKE TITICACA AND TIAHUANACO RUINS (4 days/3 nights)

DAY 1. TRANSFER IN
El Alto airport is at 4.000 m/13,115 ft above sea level and 14 km/9 miles from downtown La Paz on a highway with an excellent view of the city and the majestic backdrop of the Illimani mountain in the Andes Range.

DAY 2. HUATAJATA (In lake Titicaca - Half day) /CITY TOUR AND VALLEY OF THE MOON
A. M. Huatajata is on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,841 m/12,594 ft), with a great view of the Andes Royal Range. This area is the richest in agriculture due to the lake's humidity. Quinua, potato, oca, lima bean and barley are their main products. Visit a small museum of the constructors of the RA II Expedition, done by Thor Heyerdahl using the local technique to build the totora reed boats.

P. M. CITY TOUR AND VALLEY OF THE MOON
A 3 hour tour of La Paz, including the area of the street markets, rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artifacts which represent their traditions. The tour goes through the colonial part of the city, San Francisco Church, Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco (Tiwanacu) temple. Then through the modern part of town to the Valley of the Moon and enjoy all of its natural geological formations. (B, L)

DAY 3. TIAHUANACO RUINS (Half day)
The trip passes through the Bolivian Highlands were you can see the Aymara Indians way of life. Tiahuanaco is one of the oldest cultures and considered the cradle of the American man, being one of the most advanced ones. The temples and constructions include: Kalasasaya temple to see the main work done by them like the Gate of the Sun, monoliths Ponce and Fraile; Akapana pyramid and Semi underground temple. Transfer out. (B)

DAY 4. TRANSFER OUT
From the hotel to the airport. (B)